Mower attachment for tractors



June 15, 1954 M, ROUSEY 2,680,946

MOWER ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS Filed Nov. 28, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l /6 7045 1 5 67 64 O 66 6, 6 Q 6 7 556E O 5 0 70" a7 77 74 a9 I I &9

INVENTOR.

Mar/m 55am? BY Patented June 15, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved mower attachment for powertractors. More particularly it relates to an attachment by which a moweris carried ahead of a tractor and both moved and operated by powersupplied by the tractor.

Usual tractor operated mowers are towed behind the tractor, the tractormerely supplying the motive power. A mower which is carried ahead of thetractor and positively controlled, in direction by the tractor hasnumerous advantages over a towed mower. The mower carried on the frontof a tractor may be more effectively used in mowing a lawn or yard as itcan be worked closely around trees and in corners. Such a mower isadvantageous for all mowing purposes because of the fact that the growthbeing cut is not rolled or pressed down by the tractor tires and maythus be evenly out without loss.

A mower attachment of this character should be readily attached to atractor and removed therefrom as the tractor will normally be used forother purposes a majority of the time. Such a mower is also desirable,howevenfor the reason that, since it extends in front of the tractor, itdoes not interfere with other use of the tractor for towing purposeswhile the mower is mounted on the tractor and lifted out of operativeposition.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedmower attachment for tractors.

It is also an object to provide such an attachment which is carried infront of the tractor and may be raised or lowered between operative andinoperative positions.

It is an additional object to provide a mower attachment adapted to beoperated from the power take-off means of a tractor by means of a beltand pulleys.

It is another object to provide a mower attachment which may be easilyattached to or removed from a tractor.

It is a further object to provide a mower which is simple in design,construction and operation and adapted for commercial production anduse.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

I have shown certain preferred embodiments of my invention in theaccompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is an elevational view of atractor with the mower attachment applied thereto;

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view with parts broken away and shown 'insection of the mower frame, mower, and its main drive assembly;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View on an enlarged scale ofthe cutter bars drive connections;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section on an enlarged scale taken on line 4-4of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevational view, similar to Figure 1, showing amodified form of con struction; and

Figure 6 is a plan view with parts broken away and shown in section ofthe mower frame, mower and drive of Figure 5.

Referring first to the construction shown in Figures 1 to 4., thetractor'generally indicated at i l is provided with the usual frontwheels l2 and rear wheels indicated at l3. The tractor is also suppliedwith a rear power take-off which drives the pulley it. The tractor isshown as provided with a hydraulically operated power lift l6 controlledby lever I! operating on quadrant is. It will be understood that thetractor construction so far described may be of any commercial form andin itself forms no part of the present invention.

The support frame for the attachment comprises diagonal brace bars 20 ateach side of the tractor, the rear ends of which bars 29 are se cured at2| to the tractor frame 23. The front ends of the brace bars 20 areconnected at 25 to the downwardly extending frame bars 26. The upperends of frame bars 26 are connected by bolts 28 to the tractor frame 23or to any convenient portion of the tractor. The main mower fram 36comprises two similar members, as best shown in Figure 2. These membersare pivotally supported at 32 on the supporting frame bars 26. The rearends of the main frame members 30 carry th rotating cross shaft 34, theright end of this shaft 34 being provided with a crank arm 36. Thiscrank arm 36 is connected by pitman 38 with a bell crank lever 46 whichoperates the cutter bar. The forward end of the bell crank lever 49 ispivotally connected by pin 52 with a block 34, this blockfitting betweenfixed blocks #55 which are secured to the cutter bar 48. The cutter barframe 59 has a rearwardly extending lug '52 on which the bell cranklever 40 is pivoted at 53. The bell crank lever to is provided with arear extension 54 having a counter-balance weight 56 at its outer end.The cutter frame 56 is provided with runners or slides 58 which normallyride on the ground when the mower is in operation.

The mower frame members 30 are each connected by a lifting chain to thefront end 62 of a lifting arm 63, which arm is pivoted on a bushingfitted on bolt 28 which secures the upper end of supporting frame bar 26to the tractor frame. The rear end 34 of lifting arm 63 has a pivotedconnection at 55 by means of a pin 66 to the end of the link 6?. Theother end of link 6'! has a pivoted connection at 68 to the arm "I6which arm is fixedly secured to the rotatable cross shaft ll of thepower lift I6.

The draw bar it serves as a pulley arm support member and is connectedto the tractor at I6 and hasits rear portion provided with a fixed pivotmember '57. The pulley arm 19 is pivoted on pivot member ii and the freeend of the pulley arm '19 is connected by downwardly extending spring 8Ito an adjacent portion ofthe tractor frame. The pulley arm I9 carries apair of idler pulleys 8:3 and 85. The continuous drive belt 8? extendsaround the power take-off pulley I and under the idler pulleys 84andSFa, as shown in Figure 1. The forward end of this belt l extendsaround the mower drive pulley 35 carried r on the shaft 34.

The form of construction shown in Figures 5 and 5 is generally similarto that shown in Figures 1 to 4,.but is applied to a mower having arotating cutter rather than a reciprocating cutter. The tractor ll shownin Figure 5 is the same as that shown in Figure 1. It is provided withwheels I2 and I3, the rear power take-off pulley I5, andthehydraulically operated power lift controlledbylever ll operating onquadrant The support frame for the mower attachment comprisesdiagonalbrace bars 126 at each side of the tractor, the rear ends of the bars Ibeing secured at I 2 I- to the tractor frame 23. The front ends of thebrace bars I26 are connected at I to the downwardly extending frame barsI26. The upper ends of frame bars I26 are connected by bolts -I 23 tothe tractor frame 23 or to any convenientportion of the tractor.

The main mowerframe comprises a pair of similar but reversely bentmembers I38 and I3I having parallel rear portions I32 and E33,respectively,:which are pivotally supported at I34 and I35 on crossshaft I38 carried by the lower ends of the frame bars I26. The forwardends of members I3Ii and I3I are joined by yoke Hill which carries thevertical bearing member I42.

The lower portion of bearing member I42 is conends I62 which are adaptedto engage the ground surfaceand' act as skids to maintain the cutter id?above the surface at all times. The guard I53 is supported from framemembers I and 428i by members I53.

The frame member I3I is connected by lifting chain I69 to the front endI62 of a lifting arm :63, which arm is pivoted on'bolt I28 which securesthe upper end of supporting frame bar l26 to the tractor frame. The rearend 164 of the lifting arm I63 is' pivotally connected by pin I66 to thelower end of link 16?. The upper end of link I63: has'a pivotedconnection at I68 to the arm To which is fixedly secured to therotatable cross shaft 1 I' of the power lift l6.

The power take-off connections of Figure 5.

are similar to those of Figure 1, the belt'B'I driving the pulley F89 onthe rotatable cross shaft I38 carried'by the rear parallel portions I32and i233 of'the frame members I36 and ISI. This shaft I90 also carriesthe pulley I92 which drives belt I94 passing around pulley M8 on thecutter shaft I45. Belt guides I96 are shown as carried by shaft I38 toretain belt I .96 in place on pulleys I48 and I92.

In the operation of the first form of construction of the mower with theparts in a position shown in Figure 1, the cross shaft will be rotatedby means of belt 8Iwhich belt is driven from the power take-off pulleyI5. The tension of spring-M serves to pull:down the idler pulleys 84 and85 and keep the belt'Bl in firm driving contact with pulley 89 on shaft3 3. The crank arm 36 reciprocates the pitman 33. This pitman rocks thebell'crank lever about its pivot 53. This movement of the bell crank 4i!causes the block Mto move to the right and left. This block 7. 46thrusts alternately against the two blocks 46 fixed to the cutter blade.The cutter blade is thus given a reciprocativc movement for its cuttingaction.

The operation of the form of construction shown in Figures 5 and Sissimilar, the cutter I4? 'being'rotated with shaft I by means 'of beltI84 drivingpulley I43.

When it is desired to put the mower of Figure 1 out of action or to liftit for any reason, the hydraulic power lift 16 is operated bymeans" oflever I'I,the arms Hi swinging inthe clockwise direction to force link67 downwardly which thrusts the rear end 64 of the arm fifidownwardly.By means of chain connectecltto'the' forward end of arm 63 .toiaframemember 36, these two frame members 36 are iswung upwardly or in thecounter-clockwise direction about their pivots 32. This lifts the.cutter barfrom the ground. During thisliftingmovementthe rear oftheframe members'fifi will be moved downwardly carrying downwardly theshaft 34 and pulley89. Due to the location of the parts and of the pivot32 -relative to shaft 34, the distance between pulley-'89 and theidlerpulleys 84 and will not be greatly increased. The (belt 8? will lift theidler pulleys 84 and 85 somewhatagainst' the resistance of spring 8|during this movement, but the spring retains the'belt in close contactwith the pulleys throughout the range of movement.

The mowerof Figuresb'an'd 6 is lifted in the same manner, the chain I56swinging the entire cutter and drive assembly about the shaft I38 as apivot. I

It will be apparent that the constructions shown are simple in designand that due to the geometry ofthe parts and the spring control of thebelt drive, either type of mower, may ride over rough ground whilemaintaining full drive of the cutter blade. The cutter assembly may heliftedcompletely clear of the groundwithout disconnection of 7 any driveparts. The entire mower-assembly shown in Figure 1 may be read ilyremoved from the tractor when desired'by merely removing the "bolts-"28and 2! which-connect'the frame members Eitand ES'tOthe tractor frame andalso disconnecting the link elifrom the arm'i'fl. TheconstructioncfFigures 5 and 6 may be removed "in a' similar'manner. Theidler pulleys 84 and 85"may be similarly-removed by disconnection fromdrawbar 1-3 when desired.

While thelifting action of the" cutter member been described as for thepurpose or rendering'it inoperative, it will be understood that thecutter may be operated inv a raisedposition if it is desired to' cut ata distance'abov'e the ground greater than that atwhich'ithe runners 53or I52 hold the cutter. In normal operation the i merses or I52 reston'the ground and 'the chains 69 or 469 are slack so that the runnersmay follow rough ground.

It will be understood that the general relation of the frame and liftingmembers may be modified to different types of tractors. Also the mowermay be lifted manually where hydraulic or other power for lifting is notavailable.

The specific embodiments shown are illustrative only and I contemplatesuch modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

l. A mower attachment for a motor vehicle having a power take-off drive,said mower at tachment comprising a support frame adapted to be fixedlyattached to the vehicle and having members extending downwardly from thevehicle between the wheels of the vehicle, a tiltable mower framesupported at an intermediate pivot point on the downwardly extendingmembers below the vehicle frame, said mower frame having a forwardlyextending portion carrying a mower having a rotatable cutter member on ashaft operating about a vertical axis, a transverse rotatable shaftcarried by the mower frame in the rear of its line of pivotal support, aplurality of pulleys fixedly secured to the rotatable shaft, a drivebelt connecting one of the pulleys and the cutter member shaft, a secondbelt drive between another pulley and the power take-off, a lifting armpivotally supported on the support frame and extending forwardly thereofand a connection between the forwardly extending portion of the arm andthe mower frame whereby the mower frame may be raised and lowered.

2. A mower attachment for a motor vehicle having a power take-off drive,said mower attachment comprising a support frame adapted to be fixedlyattached to the vehicle and having members extending downwardly from thevehicle between the wheels of the vehicle, a tiltable mower framesupported at an intermediate pivot point on the downwardly extendingmembers below the vehicle frame, said mower frame having a forwardlyextending portion carrying a bearing member supporting a verticallyextending cutter shaft, the cutter shaft having a radially extendingcutter blade at its lower end and a pulley at its upper end, an arcuatecutter guard carried by the tiltable mower frame in the rear of thecutter blade, said cutter guard having ground engaging portions locatedlaterally of the blade, a lifting arm having an intermediate pivot onthe support frame and having a portion extending above the forwardportion of the mower frame and connected thereto by lifting means, meansfor raising and lowering the rear end of the lifting arm to lower andraise the cutter blade, pulleys on a rotatable shaft carried by themower frame in the rear of its pivot, a drive belt connecting one ofsaid pulleys and the pulley on-the cutter shaft, and a drive beltconnecting another pulley on the rotatable shaft to the vehicle powertake-off.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 957,660 Delano May 10, 1919 1,372,339 Cook Mar. 22, 19211,657,994 Dayton Jan. 31, 1928 1,690,950 Salas Nov. 6, 1928 2,190,161Moyer Feb. 13, 1940 2,340,488 Paradise et a1. Feb. 1, 1944 2,483,683Wells et al. Oct. 4, 1949 2,501,424 Ufer Mar. 21, 1950

